User interfaces for editing video clips

Abstract

A computer-implemented method including displaying in a user interface, a first thumbnail representing a first video clip including a first plurality of frames; displaying in the first thumbnail, a first transition point positioned between a left edge and a right edge of the first thumbnail, the first transition point associated with a frame of the first plurality of frames, wherein, playback of the first plurality of frames starts with a first start frame positioned at the left edge and stops at the frame associated with the first transition point; receiving a first move input to move the frame associated with the first transition point to a new frame of the first plurality of frames; and in response to receiving the input, associating the new frame with the first transition point, wherein, in response to a playback input, playback starts with the first start frame and stops at the new frame.

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
 displaying a first video segment in a first bounded region in a first row and a second video segment in a second bounded region in a second row, where the second bounded region in the second row is vertically displaced from the first bounded region in the first row; 
 displaying a first indicia in the first bounded region, wherein the first indicia is movable to any point in the first bounded region, the first indicia representing a first transition point that corresponds to a first time instant in the first video segment such that a portion from a beginning of the first video segment to the first time instant is playable; 
 displaying a second indicia in the second bounded region, the second indicia vertically aligned with the first indicia, wherein the second indicia is movable to any point in the second bounded region, the second indicia representing a second transition point that corresponds to a second time instant in the second video segment such that a portion from the second time instant to an end of the second video segment is playable; 
 receiving a playback input; and 
 in response to receiving the playback input, playing back the portion from the beginning of the first video segment to the first time instant and the portion from the second time instant to the end of the second video segment continuously. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising detecting selection of a different time instant in the first video segment and in response to the detecting displaying the first indicia at the different time instant. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the portion from the beginning of the first video segment to the different time instant is playable. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , further comprising receiving a new playback input and in response to receiving the new playback input, playing back the portion from the beginning of the first video segment to the different time instant and the portion from the second time instant to the end of the second video segment continuously. 
     
     
       5. A computer-implemented method comprising:
 displaying in a user interface, in a first row, a first thumbnail representing a first video clip including a first plurality of frames, the first thumbnail including a left edge and a right edge, the first plurality of frames distributed between the left edge and the right edge of the first thumbnail, wherein the first plurality of frames are playable starting with a first start frame positioned at the left edge of the first thumbnail and ending with a first end frame positioned at the right edge of the first thumbnail; 
 displaying in the first thumbnail, a first transition point positioned between the left edge and the right edge of the first thumbnail, the first transition point associated with a frame of the first plurality of frames, wherein, in response to a playback input, playback of the first plurality of frames starts with the first start frame positioned at the left edge and stops at the frame associated with the first transition point; 
 receiving a first move input to move the frame associated with the first transition point to a new frame of the first plurality of frames; 
 in response to receiving the first move input, associating the new frame with the first transition point, wherein, in response to the playback input, playback of the first plurality of frames starts with the first start frame positioned at the left edge of the first thumbnail and stops at the new frame; 
 displaying in the user interface, in another row vertically displaced from the first row, a second thumbnail representing a second video clip including a second plurality of frames, the second thumbnail including a left edge and a right edge, the second plurality of frames distributed between the left edge and the right edge of the second thumbnail, wherein the second plurality of frames are playable starting with a second start frame positioned at the left edge of the second thumbnail and ending with a second end frame positioned at the right edge of the second thumbnail; 
 displaying in the second thumbnail, a second transition point positioned between the left edge and the right edge of the second thumbnail, the second transition point associated with a frame of the second plurality of frames, wherein, in response to the playback input, playback of the second plurality of frames starts at the frame associated with the second transition point and stops at the second end frame positioned at the right edge of the second thumbnail; 
 receiving a second move input to move the frame associated with the second transition point to a new frame of the second plurality of frames; and 
 in response to receiving the second move input, associating the new frame with the second transition point, wherein, in response to the playback input, playback of the second plurality of frames starts with the new frame and stops at the second end frame positioned at the right edge of the second thumbnail. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising aligning the first transition point with the second transition point in the user interface. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein aligning the first transition point with the second transition point comprises positioning the frame associated with the second transition point below the first transition point. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising representing the first transition point and the second transition point by a vertical bar in the user interface passing through the first thumbnail and the second thumbnail. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising upon detecting positioning of a cursor on the first thumbnail or in the first row, playing back includes the first plurality of frames. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising upon detecting positioning of the cursor on the second thumbnail or in the another row, playing back includes the second plurality of frames. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising, in response to receiving the playback input, continuously playing back the frames from the first start frame positioned at the left edge of the first thumbnail to the frame associated with the first transition point and then from the frame associated with the second transition point to the second end frame positioned at the right edge of the second thumbnail. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the first video clip and the second video clip are selectively contiguous. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 5  wherein the first plurality of frames distributed between the left edge and the first transition point of the first thumbnail and the second plurality of frames distributed between the second transition point and the right edge of the second thumbnail comprise a third video clip. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising upon detecting positioning of the cursor outside the first row and the another row, playing back includes the third video clip. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising saving the third video clip. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 displaying a preceding thumbnail representing a preceding video clip to the left of the left edge of the first thumbnail and a subsequent thumbnail representing a subsequent video clip to the right of the right edge of the first thumbnail upon detecting positioning of the cursor within the first row. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising selecting the new frame and dragging the new frame to the left of the user interface, wherein, in response to dragging, additional thumbnails representing additional video clips subsequent to the subsequent video clip are displayed. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 8 , wherein upon receiving the first move input to move the frame associated with the first transition point to the new frame, the first thumbnail shifts relative to the vertical bar. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the first plurality of frames starting with the first start frame positioned at the left edge of the first thumbnail and ending at the frame associated with the first transition point are emphasized. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the second plurality of frames starting at the frame associated with the second transition point and ending with the second end frame positioned at the right edge of the second thumbnail are emphasized. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the first thumbnail is rectangular. 
     
     
       22. A computer-implemented method comprising:
 displaying in a user interface display region a plurality of bounded regions each displaying respective video segments including at least a first bounded region in a first row, the first bounded region displaying a first video segment, and a second bounded region in a second row vertically displaced from the first bounded region in the first row, the second bounded region displaying a second video segment; 
 displaying in the user interface display region a vertical transition marker that intersects the first and second bounded regions, the transition marker defining a first transition point in the first video segment and a second transition point in the second video segment, the first transition point corresponding to a first intersection of the transition marker and the first bounded region and the second transition point corresponding to a second intersection of the transition marker and the second bounded region; and 
 receiving user input to alter one or both of the first and second transition points by visually effecting relative movement between one or more of the first video segment, the second video segment and the transition marker. 
 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 22 , further comprising displaying an edited video segment comprising a portion of the first video segment ending at the first transition point followed by a portion of the second video segment beginning at the second transition point. 
     
     
       24. A computer program product, encoded on a computer-readable medium, operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:
 presenting a first video segment in a first bounded region in a first row and a second video segment in a second bounded region in a second row, where the second bounded region in the second row is vertically displaced from the first bounded region in the first row; 
 presenting a first indicia in the first bounded region, wherein the first indicia is movable to any point in the first bounded region, the first indicia representing a first transition point that corresponds to a first time instant in the first video segment such that a portion from a beginning of the first video segment to the first time instant is playable; 
 presenting a second indicia in the second bounded region, the second indicia vertically_aligned with the first indicia, wherein the second indicia is movable to any point in the second bounded region, the second indicia representing a second transition point that corresponds to a second time instant in the second video segment such that a portion from the second time instant to an end of the second video segment is playable; 
 accepting a playback input; and 
 in response to accepting the playback input, playing back the portion from the beginning of the first video segment to the first time instant and the portion from the second time instant to the end of the second video segment continuously. 
 
     
     
       25. The computer program product of  claim 24 , further comprising detecting selection of a different time instant in the first video segment and in response to the detecting presenting the first indicia at the different time instant. 
     
     
       26. The computer program product of  claim 25 , wherein the portion from the beginning of the first video segment to the different time instant is playable. 
     
     
       27. The computer program product of  claim 26 , further comprising accepting a new playback input and in response to accepting the new playback input, playing back the portion from the beginning of the first video segment to the different time instant and the portion from the second time instant to the end of the second video segment continuously. 
     
     
       28. A computer program product, encoded on a computer-readable medium, operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:
 presenting in a user interface, in a first row, a first thumbnail representing a first video clip including a first plurality of frames, the first thumbnail including a left edge and a right edge, the first plurality of frames distributed between the left edge and the right edge of the first thumbnail, wherein the first plurality of frames are playable starting with a first start frame positioned at the left edge of the first thumbnail and ending with a first end frame positioned at the right edge of the first thumbnail; 
 presenting in the first thumbnail, a first transition point positioned between the left edge and the right edge of the first thumbnail, the first transition point associated with a frame of the first plurality of frames, wherein, in response to a playback input, playback of the first plurality of frames starts with the first start frame positioned at the left edge and stops at the frame associated with the first transition point; 
 accepting a first move input to move the frame associated with the first transition point to a new frame of the first plurality of frames; 
 in response to accepting the first move input, associating the new frame with the first transition point, wherein, in response to the playback input, playback of the first plurality of frames starts with the first start frame positioned at the left edge of the first thumbnail and stops at the new frame; 
 presenting in the user interface, in another row vertically displaced from the first row, a second thumbnail representing a second video clip including a second plurality of frames, the second thumbnail including a left edge and a right edge, the second plurality of frames distributed between the left edge and the right edge of the second thumbnail, wherein the second plurality of frames are playable starting with a second start frame positioned at the left edge of the second thumbnail and ending with a second end frame positioned at the right edge of the second thumbnail; 
 presenting in the second thumbnail, a second transition point positioned between the left edge and the right edge of the second thumbnail, the second transition point associated with a frame of the second plurality of frames, wherein, in response to the playback input, playback of the second plurality of frames starts at the frame associated with the second transition point and stops at the second end frame positioned at the right edge of the second thumbnail; 
 accepting a second move input to move the frame associated with the second transition point to a new frame of the second plurality of frames; and 
 in response to accepting the second move input, associating the new frame with the second transition point, wherein, in response to the playback input, playback of the second plurality of frames starts with the new frame and stops at the second end frame positioned at the right edge of the second thumbnail. 
 
     
     
       29. The computer program product of  claim 28 , further comprising aligning the first transition point with the second transition point in the user interface. 
     
     
       30. The computer program product of  claim 29 , wherein aligning the first transition point with the second transition point comprises positioning the frame associated with the second transition point below the first transition point. 
     
     
       31. The computer program product of  claim 28 , further comprising representing the first transition point and the second transition point by a vertical bar in the user interface passing through the first thumbnail and the second thumbnail. 
     
     
       32. The computer program product of  claim 28 , further comprising upon detecting positioning of a cursor on the first thumbnail or in the first row, playing back includes the first plurality of frames. 
     
     
       33. The computer program product of  claim 28 , further comprising upon detecting positioning of the cursor on the second thumbnail or in the another row, playing back includes the second plurality of frames. 
     
     
       34. The computer program product of  claim 28 , further comprising, in response to accepting the playback input, continuously playing back the frames from the first start frame positioned at the left edge of the first thumbnail to the frame associated with the first transition point and then from the frame associated with the second transition point to the second end frame positioned at the right edge of the second thumbnail. 
     
     
       35. The computer program product of  claim 28 , wherein the first video clip and the second video clip are selectively contiguous. 
     
     
       36. The computer program product of  claim 28 , wherein the first plurality of frames distributed between the left edge and the first transition point of the first thumbnail and the second plurality of frames distributed between the second transition point and the right edge of the second thumbnail comprise a third video clip. 
     
     
       37. The computer program product of  claim 36 , further comprising upon detecting positioning of the cursor outside the first row and the another row, playing back includes the third video clip. 
     
     
       38. The computer program product of  claim 36 , further comprising saving the third video clip. 
     
     
       39. The computer program product of  claim 28 , further comprising presenting a preceding thumbnail representing a preceding video clip to the left of the left edge of the first thumbnail and a subsequent thumbnail representing a subsequent video clip to the right of the right edge of the first thumbnail upon detecting positioning of the cursor within the first row. 
     
     
       40. The computer program product of  claim 39 , further comprising selecting the new frame and dragging the new frame to the left of the user interface, wherein, in response to dragging, additional thumbnails representing additional video clips subsequent to the subsequent video clip are presented. 
     
     
       41. The computer program product of  claim 31 , wherein upon accepting the first move input to move the frame associated with the first transition point to the new frame the first thumbnail shifts relative to the vertical bar. 
     
     
       42. The computer program product of  claim 28 , wherein the first plurality of frames starting with the first start frame positioned at the left edge of the first thumbnail and ending at the frame associated with the first transition point are emphasized. 
     
     
       43. The computer program product of  claim 28 , wherein the second plurality of frames starting at the frame associated with the second transition point and ending with the second end frame positioned at the right edge of the second thumbnail are emphasized. 
     
     
       44. The computer program product of  claim 28 , wherein the first thumbnail is rectangular. 
     
     
       45. A computer program product, encoded on a computer-readable medium, operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:
 presenting in a user interface display region a plurality of bounded regions each displaying respective video segments including at least a first bounded region in a first row, the first bounded region displaying a first video segment, and a second bounded region in a second row vertically displaced from the first bounded region in the first row, the second bounded region displaying a second video segment; 
 presenting in the user interface display region a vertical transition marker that intersects the first and second bounded regions, the transition marker defining a first transition point in the first video segment and a second transition point in the second video segment, the first transition point corresponding to a first intersection of the transition marker and the first bounded region and the second transition point corresponding to a second intersection of the transition marker and the second bounded region; and 
 accepting user input to alter one or both of the first and second transition points by visually effecting relative movement between one or more of the first video segment, the second video segment and the transition marker. 
 
     
     
       46. The computer program product of  claim 45 , further comprising presenting an edited video segment comprising a portion of the first video segment ending at the first transition point followed by a portion of the second video segment beginning at the second transition point. 
     
     
       47. A system comprising:
 a user interface device; and 
 one or more computers operable to interact with the user interface device comprising:
 a display device, the display device to:
 display a first video segment in a first bounded region in a first row and a second video segment in a second bounded region in a second row, where the second bounded region in the second row is vertically displaced from the first bounded region in the first row; 
 display a first indicia in the first bounded region, wherein the first indicia is movable to any point in the first bounded region, the first indicia representing a first transition point that corresponds to a first time instant in the first video segment such that a portion from a beginning of the first video segment to the first time instant is playable; 
 display a second indicia in the second bounded region, the second indicia vertically aligned with the first indicia, wherein the second indicia is movable to any point in the second bounded region, the second indicia representing a second transition point that corresponds to a second time instant in the second video segment such that a portion from the second time instant to an end of the second video segment is playable; and 
 
 an input device, the input device to receive a playback input and in response to receiving the playback input, playing back the portion from the beginning of the first video segment to the first time instant and the portion from the second time instant to the end of the second video segment continuously. 
 
 
     
     
       48. The system of  claim 47 , further comprising a detection device, the detection device to detect selection of a different time instant in the first video segment and in response to the detecting displaying the first indicia at the different time instant. 
     
     
       49. The system of  claim 48 , wherein the portion from the beginning of the first video segment to the different time instant is playable. 
     
     
       50. The system of  claim 49 , further comprising receiving a new playback input and in response to receiving the new playback input, playing back the portion from the beginning of the first video segment to the different time instant and the portion from the second time instant to the end of the second video segment continuously. 
     
     
       51. A system comprising:
 a user interface device; and 
 one or more computers operable to interact with the user interface device comprising:
 a display device, the display device to:
 display in the user interface device, in a first row, a first thumbnail representing a first video clip including a first plurality of frames, the first thumbnail including a left edge and a right edge, the first plurality of frames distributed between the left edge and the right edge of the first thumbnail, wherein the first plurality of frames are playable starting with a first start frame positioned at the left edge of the first thumbnail and ending with a first end frame positioned at the right edge of the first thumbnail; 
 display in the first thumbnail, a first transition point positioned between the left edge and the right edge of the first thumbnail, the first transition point associated with a frame of the first plurality of frames, wherein, in response to a playback input, playback of the first plurality of frames starts with the first start frame positioned at the left edge and stops at the frame associated with the first transition point; 
 display in another row vertically displaced from the first row, a second thumbnail representing a second video clip including a second plurality of frames, the second thumbnail including a left edge and a right edge, the second plurality of frames distributed between the left edge and the right edge of the second thumbnail, wherein the second plurality of frames are playable starting with a second start frame positioned at the left edge of the second thumbnail and ending with a second end frame positioned at the right edge of the second thumbnail; and 
 display in the second thumbnail, a second transition point positioned between the left edge and the right edge of the second thumbnail, the second transition point associated with a frame of the second plurality of frames, wherein, in response to the playback input, playback of the second plurality of frames starts at the frame associated with the second transition point and stops at the second end frame positioned at the right edge of the second thumbnail; and 
 
 an input device, the input device to receive:
 a first move input to move the frame associated with the first transition point to a new frame of the first plurality of frames and in response to receiving the first move input, associating the new frame with the first transition point, wherein, in response to the playback input, playback of the first plurality of frames starts with the first start frame positioned at the left edge of the first thumbnail and stops at the new frame; and 
 a second move input to move the frame associated with the second transition point to a new frame of the second plurality of frames and in response to receiving the second move input, associating the new frame with the second transition point, wherein, in response to the playback input, playback of the second plurality of frames starts with the new frame and stops at the second end frame positioned at the right edge of the second thumbnail. 
 
 
 
     
     
       52. The system of  claim 51 , further comprising circuitry to align the first transition point with the second transition point in the user interface device. 
     
     
       53. The system of  claim 52 , wherein aligning the first transition point with the second transition point comprises positioning the frame associated with the second transition point below the first transition point. 
     
     
       54. The system of  claim 51 , further comprising circuitry to represent the first transition point and the second transition point by a vertical bar in the user interface device passing through the first thumbnail and the second thumbnail. 
     
     
       55. The system of  claim 51 , further comprising circuitry to detect positioning of a cursor, wherein upon detecting positioning of the cursor on the first thumbnail or in the first row, playing back includes the first plurality of frames. 
     
     
       56. The system of  claim 51 , further comprising upon detecting positioning of the cursor on the second thumbnail or in the another row, playing back includes the second plurality of frames. 
     
     
       57. The system of  claim 51 , further comprising circuitry, in response to receiving playback input, to continuously play back the frames from the first start frame positioned at the left edge of the first thumbnail to the frame associated with the first transition point and then from the frame associated with the second transition point to the second end frame positioned at the right edge of the second thumbnail. 
     
     
       58. The system of  claim 51 , wherein the first video clip and the second video clip are selectively contiguous. 
     
     
       59. The system of  claim 51 , wherein the first plurality of frames distributed between the left edge and the first transition point of the first thumbnail and the second plurality of frames distributed between the second transition point and the right edge of the second thumbnail comprise a third video clip. 
     
     
       60. The system of  claim 59 , further comprising upon detecting positioning of the cursor outside the first row and the another row, playing back includes the third video clip. 
     
     
       61. The system of  claim 59 , further comprising circuitry to save the third video clip. 
     
     
       62. The system of  claim 51 , wherein the display device displays a preceding thumbnail representing a preceding video clip to the left of the left edge of the first thumbnail and a subsequent thumbnail representing a subsequent video clip to the right of the right edge of the first thumbnail upon detecting positioning of the cursor within the first row. 
     
     
       63. The system of  claim 62 , further comprising circuitry to select the new frame and drag the new frame to the left of the user interface device, wherein, in response to dragging, additional thumbnails representing additional video clips subsequent to the subsequent video clip are displayed. 
     
     
       64. The system of  claim 54 , wherein upon receiving input to change the frame associated with the first transition point to the new frame the first thumbnail shifts relative to the vertical bar. 
     
     
       65. The system of  claim 51 , wherein the first plurality of frames starting with the first start frame positioned at the left edge of the first thumbnail and ending at the frame associated with the first transition point are emphasized. 
     
     
       66. The system of  claim 51 , wherein the second plurality of frames starting with the frame associated with the second transition point and ending with the second end frame positioned at the right edge of the second thumbnail are emphasized. 
     
     
       67. The system of  claim 51 , where the first thumbnail is rectangular. 
     
     
       68. A system comprising:
 a user interface device; and 
 one or more computers operable to interact with the user interface device comprising:
 a display device, the display device to:
 display in a user interface display region a plurality of bounded regions each displaying respective video segments including at least a first bounded region in a first row, the first bounded region displaying a first video segment, and a second bounded region in a second row vertically displaced from the first bounded region in the first row, the second bounded region displaying a second video segment; 
 display in the user interface display region a vertical transition marker that intersects the first and second bounded regions, the transition marker defining a first transition point in the first video segment and a second transition point in the second video segment, the first transition point corresponding to a first intersection of the transition marker and the first bounded region and the second transition point corresponding to a second intersection of the transition marker and the second bounded region; and 
 
 an input device, the input device to receive user input to alter one or both of the first and second transition points by visually effecting relative movement between one or more of the first video segment, the second video segment and the transition marker. 
 
 
     
     
       69. The system of  claim 68 , wherein the display device displays an edited video segment comprising a portion of the first video segment ending at the first transition point followed by a portion of the second video segment beginning at the second transition point.